Exhibition « Picasso & Abstraction » – Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium (2024)

The Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, in close collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris, are devoting a unique exhibition to Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) next fall. The two institutions are decrypting a theme that has never been explored before: for the very first time, Picasso's relationship with abstraction will be brought to light, through more than one hundred and forty exceptional works.

TICKETS

The exhibition will address the major stages that marked the links between Picasso's work and the history of abstract art, from the first Cubist experiments of 1907, carried out on the fringes of Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, to his later work, which is sometimes situated on the borders of action painting. This surprising relationship, made up of small advances, retreats and backward steps, will be presented in the subtle chronological and thematic course of the exhibition, revealing the artist's pendulum movement between abstraction and the figurative over the decades.

Another major theme of the exhibition will be the artist's studio, a true formal laboratory, and will show Picasso's creative process through various series (drawings and prints), allowing the viewer to understand how he works and reflects on the representation of the chosen motifs. The studio, which is both a place of creation and a setting for the work, is also the space where the painter's imagination is realised, allowing a glimpse of the ambiguity between reality and fiction.

The viewer will not only be invited to appreciate Pablo Picasso's extraordinary creativity and his ability to constantly reinvent himself, but also to measure, through his work, how impulses towards the unknown remain an excellent way of getting to know oneself better and of freeing oneself from the limiting labels.

EXCEPTIONAL HOURS !

The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm, and on weekends from 11 am to 6 pm. We strongly advise you to book your ticket online to avoid queuing.

On Mondays, entrance via the Magritte Museum (Place Royale, 1, 1000 Brussels)

around the exhibition

CONFERENces

This season, four exceptional encounters open the debate and discussion on contemporary societal themes around the multiple facets of Pablo Picasso. Exhibition curators, sociologists, journalists, lawyers, authors, artists, philosophers, art historians... A varied panel offers a plural view on the man, the artist and his work. Join the debate!

next CONFERENces

26.11.2022| Picasso, vues pluri-elles ? (FR)
11.12.2022| Pi©asso, une image , un nom. (FR)
04.02.2023| Picasso, tribal ? Face to face ! (EN)

MASTERCLASS

25.11.2022 | MASTERCLASS : PICASSO & ABSTRACTION(NL)

Marianne Knop,guide and art historian, will take you to the heart of the exhibition's various themes, focusing on the artist's experiments with the figure-background relationship, the fragmentation of the picture plane, and the play with matter. By making a concrete link between ideas and theories, this master class will provide you with all the necessary tools to visit the exhibition as a connoisseur.

In collaboration withAmarant

PODCASTS

The Cultural Mediation Team offers you an audio immersion in 15 works by Pablo Picasso. These informative and instructive podcasts are intended to be inclusive and accessible to all audiences. The first part of each episode takes the form of an audio description. You can listen to them during your visit to the exhibition, by simply referring to the track number indicated next to the works concerned. To ensure the comfort of your visit, we suggest you download the episodes before-hands viaAcastorSpotify. Enjoy your visit! Not a podcast fan? You can also download the transcripts here.

Listen to a sneak-peek:

“When I was their age I could draw like Raphael, but it took me a lifetime to learn to draw likethem.” Pablo Picasso

Do you see this?!Picasso, through a child’s eyes

Through their child’s view, Carole, Célestine, Finn, Léonard, Léontine, Sara & Zoé invite us to discover Picasso as you have never seen him before. Let’s embark on a sound journey to discover eight works as many incredible stories.To ensure the comfort of your visit, we suggest you download the episodes before-hands viaAcastorSpotify.

The exhibition is organised in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris and is part of the project "Picasso Celebration 1973-2023": 50 exhibitions and events to celebrate Picasso. More aboutCelebration Picasso

And the support of the national lottery, the Spanish Ambassy in Belgium, Spain Arts & Culture and Instituto Cervantes.

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Exhibition Theme: Picasso's Relationship with Abstraction

The exhibition aims to explore Picasso's relationship with abstraction, a theme that has never been explored before. It will showcase more than one hundred and forty exceptional works, highlighting the major stages that marked the links between Picasso's work and the history of abstract art. The exhibition will cover the first Cubist experiments of 1907, carried out on the fringes of Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, to his later work, which sometimes borders on action painting .

Picasso's Pendulum Movement between Abstraction and Figurative

The exhibition will present Picasso's pendulum movement between abstraction and the figurative over the decades. It will reveal the artist's relationship with abstraction through a subtle chronological and thematic course. This movement is characterized by small advances, retreats, and backward steps, showcasing Picasso's exploration of both abstract and figurative elements in his work.

The Artist's Studio as a Theme

Another major theme of the exhibition is Picasso's studio, which is described as a true formal laboratory. The exhibition will showcase Picasso's creative process through various series of drawings and prints. This will allow viewers to understand how Picasso worked and reflected on the representation of chosen motifs. The studio is portrayed as a place of creation and a setting for the work, where the painter's imagination is realized, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Picasso's Constant Reinvention and Impulses towards the Unknown

The exhibition aims to invite viewers to appreciate Picasso's extraordinary creativity and his ability to constantly reinvent himself. It emphasizes how impulses towards the unknown remain an excellent way of getting to know oneself better and freeing oneself from limiting labels. Through Picasso's work, visitors can witness his continuous exploration and experimentation .

Exhibition Details

The exhibition will be open from Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 5 pm, and on weekends from 11 am to 6 pm. It is recommended to book tickets online to avoid queuing .

Additional Events

In addition to the exhibition, there will be several conferences and a masterclass related to Picasso and abstraction. The conferences will feature discussions on contemporary societal themes around Picasso's work, with contributions from exhibition curators, sociologists, journalists, lawyers, authors, artists, philosophers, and art historians. The masterclass will provide a deeper understanding of Picasso's experiments with the figure-background relationship, the fragmentation of the picture plane, and the play with matter .

Podcasts and Child's Perspective

The Cultural Mediation Team offers audio immersion in 15 works by Picasso through informative and instructive podcasts. These podcasts are designed to be inclusive and accessible to all audiences. Additionally, there is a podcast series called "Picasso, through a child's eyes," where children share their perspectives on eight works by Picasso. Both podcast series can be downloaded for a more immersive experience during the exhibition visit.

Partnerships and Support

The exhibition is organized in partnership with the Musée national Picasso-Paris and is part of the project "Picasso Celebration 1973-2023," which includes 50 exhibitions and events to celebrate Picasso. The exhibition also receives support from the national lottery, the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, Spain Arts & Culture, and Instituto Cervantes.

I hope this information provides a comprehensive overview of the concepts mentioned in the article. If you have any further questions or need more details, feel free to ask!